Introduction
The end of a building project should be a milestone, not an afterthought. But in practice, the completion and handover stage is often the one that receives the least attention — from contractors keen to move on to the next project and from clients exhausted after months of disruption. Getting completion right matters: it protects your investment, ensures the work has been properly inspected, and gives you what you need for any future sale or mortgage inquiry.
The Snagging Process
Snagging is the process of identifying defects, incomplete items, or areas that don't meet the specification agreed at the start of the project. It typically takes place towards the end of the build, once the finishing works are substantially complete. A proper snagging inspection involves walking through the completed works systematically and creating a written list of items to be addressed. Typical snag categories include paint finishes (runs, misses, uneven application), tiling (grout inconsistencies, loose tiles), joinery (door alignment, handle height, skirting joints), sanitary ware (seals, fixings, function), glazing (scratches, seals, operation), and external works (drainage, levels, surface finish). Your contractor should carry out their own inspection before presenting the project as complete. You should then carry out your own — ideally in good daylight. Snag items should be addressed in a timely and agreed timeframe before the final payment is released.
Building Regulations Completion Certificate
For any project that required Building Regulations approval, a Completion Certificate must be obtained from Building Control before the project is considered complete. The Completion Certificate is issued after the Building Inspector has carried out a final inspection and is satisfied that the work complies with the approved drawings and relevant Regulations. This certificate is a legal document. Mortgage lenders and solicitors will ask for it when you come to sell or remortgage the property. If your contractor fails to obtain it, you will need to apply for a regularisation certificate retrospectively — which is more expensive and complex. At RCB Design & Build, obtaining the Completion Certificate is a managed part of our delivery process, not an afterthought.
The Health and Safety File
For notifiable projects above the CDM 2015 threshold, a Health and Safety File must be produced and handed to the client at completion. This document contains information about the project that future owners or those carrying out works to the building will need — structural drawings, details of services, records of hazardous materials found and dealt with, and as-built information. For most residential extension and loft conversion projects, the formal CDM file is less extensive — but relevant as-built drawings and Building Control documents should still be retained.
The Final Account
The final account is the financial reconciliation at the end of the project. It should reflect the original contract sum, any agreed variations (additional or omitted works), and any provisional sums that have been finalised. A well-managed project will have a relatively straightforward final account because variations were agreed in writing throughout. A poorly managed project with many undocumented verbal instructions will have a disputed final account. At RCB Design & Build, we document all variations in writing as they occur — making the final account straightforward and preventing the surprise invoices that cause disputes at the end of a project.
What to Keep After Completion
At the end of your project, you should have: the Building Regulations Completion Certificate; the electrical installation certificate; a Gas Safe certificate if a boiler was installed or modified; planning consent documentation; as-built drawings marked up with any changes; product warranties and instructions for boilers, electrical systems, windows, and roof lights; and the party wall award if served. Keep these documents in a safe place — you'll need them. Contact RCB Design & Build to discuss your project.